【00 】

Fingers impatiently thrummed against the desk. Multiple glances at the lethargic clock were taken. According to the clock, it had been 3:29 for the past five minutes.

Sato Rumi had her slender fingers wrapped around her school bag and the muscles in her legs were aching to leap up and take flight, far far away. The second that the teacher proclaimed the class dismissed, she rose from her chair and bolted out of the room. Home was the destination in mind.

Travelling two at a time down the stairs, an air of suspicion rose in her when no one appeared to stop her. Like a prisoner escaping prison, this escape felt too easy. She had been sure that she would have been caught once she stepped out of the classroom.

She sucked in a deep breath once the gates of the school were in sight. Today would shine brighter than the others! She was sure of it.

"You're leaving without saying good bye? Sato-san?" Shivers crawled down her spine as her two delicate braids were yanked painfully. She was dragged off by a leering group of girls into the usual abandoned corner of school.

"You thought you could get out so easily? Hm?" The leader of the pack of bullies questioned, giggling at the pathetic girl. "Hand over the money, like usual." Her outstretched hand nudged the girl demandingly.

Rumi reached into her bag for her notepad to write a message with her shaking hand. Please, stop this! I have no money to give you today!

The girl eyed her and shook her head. "Tsk, tsk. You never learn, do you Sato-san?" With a well-rounded kick, the girl kicked the notepad out of Rumi's hands. "If you have any reservations about the usual routine today, please speak up!" She thrust a mocking hand to her ear.

Rumi tried to summon up words to yell, scream, fight against what they would do to her, but silence only came out of her mouth. The girl grinned devilishly. "Is that so?" She gestured her pack to come in for the kill.

Rumi could only brace herself for the torture that would come. A girl who had once been her friend in kindergarten delivered multiple kicks to her ribcage. Another classmate who she once worked on a project with slapped her senseless. A stranger who never met was punching her blindly: one punch in the face, one punch in the throat where sound may never come from, and one punch to her shoulder blade. Rumi couldn't shout to save her own life, but only watched on and endured the pain. Some blood stains that covered the wall from yesterday were layered with brand new fresh ones. This was the spot where she learned extreme hatred, not only directed at her assailants, but at herself. To be mute and not able to defend herself, to be so pathetically weak, she was utterly disgusting.

The leader only watched the violence with eyes full of lust at the chaos she created. "Sato-san," There was that sickeningly sweet voice full of deceit. "It's time for a haircut, don't ya think?"

Scissors emerged from behind her back as she tightly pulled on Rumi's braids. "So cute." The leader cooed. Within two snips, she saw her glorious turquoise hair fall freely to the ground.

"This is how the world works, mute girl." The leader plainly snickered. The victim only clenched her hand in silent anger, until the nails of her fingers made her hand bleed a sick crimson. Yes, this was how her world worked.

"Herbivores." The fearsome voice of a demon echoed to the group, who stopped immediately what they were doing. He narrowed his steel cold eyes at the scene laid out before him. "You're crowding."

The once cocky girls were already taking off once a stronger opponent was on the battle field. Her attention landed on her savior, more or less. Hibari Kyoya, the strongest man of Namimori. He didn't have to deal with the suffering she put up with because he was strong. Her arm twitched. She wanted to become strong.

Hibari regarded the weakling on the floor with a contemptuous air. "Clear off. Your blood is staining the school campus."

She crawled with every painful push towards her notepad before writing a message. Thank you for saving me.

His eyebrows rose at her obscene behavior. "That wasn't my intention. If you are to die, get off school property first."

But by now Rumi only looked up to him with an enlightened expression. Yes, this would be the man who will change her from the weakling she loathed. He could teach her how to defend herself, to speak up against her bullies in a more assertive manner.

Teach me how to become strong.

He was slightly surprised by this authoritative command coming from a lowly herbivore. "I have better things to do with my time." He eyed her tattered uniform and the contusions that blossomed over her body. "Leave before I bite you to death"

He swiftly turned on his heel to leave. Rumi only eyed him sadly and hated herself more. Of course Hibari Kyoya wouldn't want to have anything to do with someone defenseless as herself. But her hope was dwindling and her options were low. Was there not anyway to prove herself?

The mute girl acted purely out of desperation, and thus did the stupidest act that was farthest from her mind. Seeing her last ray of hope leaving her, it was only logical to bite him on the ankle like a degrading dog. If she wasn't so distressed, she would have silently let a bitter laugh at the pitiful sight. A weak "herbivore" dared to even bite the strongest carnivore around. She was already preparing herself to receive more blows to her already battered form.

"Oh?" Hibari didn't even flinch at the frail bite, but looked down at the annoying parasite. His apathetic bottomless eyes stared into her strong-minded watercolor blue ones. The glint of her eyes spoke of an animalistic determination that was laughingly commendable. Her face was fixed into a snarl of sorts, that didn't frighten him one bit. This herbivore had more stupid strength then he thought.

With one swift motion, the demon of Namimori brought his tonfas roughly on her cranium without any second thought. He sneered at her mockingly as she was on the brink of passing out. "Be prepared for utter hell."